Chadian Arabic phrasebook

The Chadian dialect of Arabic (لهجة تشادية‎) is the main language of Chad.

Basics

 * Hello. :Salaam wa alekoum. (Peace be with you ):Wa alekoum salaam. (And also with you) - the response
 * Hello. (informal) : Lalê/marhaban:  (phone)- allo:  inviting someone inside:  fadal (hello/come in)
 * How are you? (to a female) : Inti afé (to a female): Kayfa halk?
 * How are you? (to a male) : Inta afé (to a male): Kayfa haluk?
 * Intou dol da afé/sah? (to a group)
 * (family) Kayfa haluki?


 * Fine, thank you. :Ana aafé. ("I am fine"):Anina aafiin ("We are fine")
 * What is your name? :Inti Ousm-ki yatou ( to ask a girl her name):Inta Ousm-ak yatou? (to ask a boy his name)
 * My name is ______ . :Ana ousm-i/ismi ________ . ( )
 * Nice to meet you. : . (mushtageen ):  nice to meet you too:(bel aktar)
 * Please. :Min fadlak. ( )
 * Thank you. :shukkran. ( )
 * You're welcome. :Afwan. ( )
 * Yes. :Ayé/nam. (Yes - people also click their throats to indicate agreement when someone is talking)
 * No. :La. (No )
 * Excuse me. (getting attention) : . (min isnak/al isnak )
 * Excuse me. (begging pardon) :min isnak/Sahmini
 * I'm sorry. : Sahmini. ( )
 * Goodbye : Maa salaam. ( )
 * Goodbye (informal) : maa salamak. ( )
 * I do not speak Arabic. :[ana ma nakalam arabic] [I dont speak arabic]/ana ma taحkki arabic[I dont talk in arabic]/Ana ma na'arfa na kalam Arab[i dont know how to speak arabic].
 * Do you speak English? :(to a girl):inti takalam/Inti ta'arfa kalam [Anglais/inglisi]? :(to a boy):inta takalam/Inta t'arfa kalam [Anglais/inglisi]?:*ta'arfa? = do you know?
 * Is there someone here who speaks English? : hinee fil zol yakalim/bit hadis inglisi/nadum yarfa anglais fi?: *chadians will probably not use "bit hadis", but, if you're a Sudani refugee or Sudani resident of chad you might blend both dialects.
 * Help! :Saa'id-ni!/awiniinii (younger Chadian speakers will say "awiniinii"/older ones say saaidinii)
 * Look out! : Fakir!(fakir means think, in certain context such as this one it means be aware: Angara'! (angari is more of a menacing "look out", adults my say this to *gilal adap* kids or misbehaving teens - compare to "walking on thin ice": *Gilal Adap: Gilal Adap is a remark often said to misbehaving juniors or children. Adap means composure or respect, when you tell someone "gilal adap" you tell them to regain and maintain composure- usually, however, this word is said as a whole "Gilaladap" to describe someone who misbehaves rather than chastise them.
 * Good morning. : Sabah al-kheer.
 * Good evening. : Gayaltou al-kheer:  *this statement is more of a rhetorical question- "gayaltou" is plural as in "(have) you guys (have) spent/lounged" and kheer means good. "have you guys (at least two or more people) spent the evening well/good/ok(?)
 * Good night. : . (Allah i sabina )
 * Good night (to sleep) : argoud aafé. ( )
 * I don't understand. : ma nafam(I dont understand)/Ana Ma fihimta(I didn't understand)
 * Where is the toilet? : hamam/dush da gait wen/wen warabet?: *gait is another filler word- it means "stay" "the(da in this context) restroom(hamam/dush) stays(gait) where(wen)"

Problems
nagdar naastamili telephonik [can I use your phone]
 * Leave me alone. :Haliinee (leave me alone) 'Khalini bakan wahid (leave me alone in one):*hali means leave it/nee is a conjugated version of me:Go away:amshii
 * Don't touch me! : ! ( Ma ti lamissini!)
 * I'll call the police. :ni nadi police
 * Police! :police
 * Stop! Thief! :wegufoo sarak da (stop the thief) Akourbou saraak! (grab the thief/hold the thief)
 * I need your help. : Ni dora ti awinini: Saa'idni
 * It's an emergency. : . ( hazihee/hazaa/shohol tawaree)
 * I'm lost. : Ana waddar
 * I lost my bag. :waaderta Shanta hagi/ma narfa wen sac hagi masha
 * I lost my wallet. :waaderta juslaan/magbakha/magfada hagi[I lost my wallet]/ma narfa wen portafay hagi masha [I dont know where my wallet went]
 * I'm sick. : Ana mardaan (male).:  Ana mardaané (female).
 * I've been injured. : .Ana indi jerii [i have an injury] awwara [mark on the body, usually a scar/mole/acne/bug bite]:  'jerii' can both mean injury or running; utilize context
 * I need a doctor. :ana nidor docteur
 * Can I use your phone?


 * *by conjugating the noun telephone to the subject (your) telephone + ik/ak
 * telephone + ni = my phone
 * samini ana nidor utilize telephone hanaki [sorry I want to use your phone]

Numbers
add
 * 1 : wâhed ( )
 * 2 : itnên/tinên ( )
 * 3 : talâta ( )
 * 4 : arba'a ( )
 * 5 : xamsa ( )
 * 6 : sitte ( )
 * 7 : saba'a ( )
 * 8 : tamâne ( )
 * 9 : tis'a ( )
 * 10 : ashara ( )
 * 11 :hidashar(11)/ ashara wa wahid (10 and 1)
 * 12 :atnashar (12)/ashara wa tinên (10 and 2 )
 * 13 :talatashar (13)/ashara wa talâta (10 and 3 )
 * 14 :arbatashar (14)/ashara wa arba (10 and 4 )
 * 15 :qamistashar (15)/ashara wa khamsa (10 and 5 )
 * 16 :sittashar (16)/ashara wa sitte (10 and 6 )
 * 17 :sabatashar (17)/ashara wa saba'a (10 and 7 )
 * 18 :tamantashar (18)/ ashara wa tamâne(10 and 8 )
 * 19 :tizaatashar (19)/ashara wa tis'a (10 and 9)
 * 20 :ishrinn (20)/itnène (20)
 * 21 :wahid ishrinn (1 20 (21)) ishrinn wa wâhed (20 and 1)
 * 22 :itneen ishrinn (2 20) (22)) itnène wa tinên (22)
 * 23 :itnène wa talâta (23)
 * 30 :talatine (30 ):talatine wa wâhed
 * 40 :arba-ine (40):arba-ine wa wâhed (41)
 * 50 :khamsine (50):khamsine wa wâhed (51)
 * 60 : (Sittine )
 * 70 : ( Sabaine)
 * 80 :Tamianine (80)
 * 90 : (Tissine )
 * 100 :Miya(100)
 * 200 : (Miteen )
 * 300 : (Toultoumiya ):  400:  ourbumia:  500:  qumsoomia:  600:  sutumia:  700:  soubomia:  800:  toomunmia:  900:  tuzoomia
 * 1,000 : (Alif )
 * 2,000 : (Alfène ):  3,000:  talaata alif:  4,000:  arbaa alif:  5,000:  qamsa alif:  6,000:  sitte alif:  7,000:  sabaa alif:  8,000:  tamanye alif:  9,000:  teeza alif:  10,000:  ashra alif:  100,000:  miya alif:  200,000:  mitenn alif:  300,000:  toultumiya alif:  400,000:  ourbumiya alif:  500,000:  qumsoomiya alif:  600,000:  soutumiya alif:  700,000:  soubumiya alif:  800,000:  toumunmiya alif:  900,000:  touzumiya alif
 * 1,000,000 : (millyon )
 * 1,000,000,000 : (billyon )
 * 1,000,000,000,000 : ( )
 * number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : (bus/gare nimbre )
 * half : (Nouss )
 * less : (Shiya )
 * more : ( Kattir)

(ziid)

subtract

(nagis/nagiisi)

Time

 * now :Hassa (now )
 * later :Bi-den (later):illa bi-den (until later)
 * before : (Awwal ):  after:  (baad)
 * morning : (Fodjour )
 * afternoon : ( Assour)
 * evening : (  Ashiyé )
 * night : ( Fillele)

Clock time

 * one o'clock AM : (saa wahid fajur)
 * two o'clock AM : (saa itneen fajur)
 * noon : ( )
 * one o'clock PM : ( )
 * two o'clock PM : ( )
 * midnight : ( )

Duration
_____ second(s)

(saaniya)

_____ minute(s)
 * (degiigee)


 * _____ hour(s): (saa)
 * _____ day(s): (yom)
 * _____ week(s): (usbu)
 * _____ month(s): (shahar)
 * _____ year(s): (senee)

Days

 * today : (Alyom )
 * yesterday : (Amiss )
 * tomorrow : ( Ambakir):  day after tommorow:(baad boukra)
 * this week : (usbu al hina )
 * last week : (usbu al faat )
 * next week : (usbu al jaiye )


 * Sunday :Yom al ahad (Sunday):Al yom (da) ahad (today is Sunday):*note, you do not have to add "da" Chadians use "da" as a filler word A LOT.
 * Monday :Yom al itnên (Monday)
 * Tuesday :Yom al sabaa (Tuesday)
 * Wednesday :Yom al arba (Wednesday)
 * Thursday :Yom al khmasa (Thursday)
 * Friday :Yom al joumla (Friday)
 * Saturday :Yom al sabat (Saturday)

Months

 * January : ( )
 * February : ( )
 * March :
 * April :
 * May :
 * June :
 * July :
 * August : ( )
 * September : ( )
 * October : ( )
 * November : ( )
 * December : ( )

Colors

 * black : (aswat)
 * white : (abiyet)
 * gray : (Akhabash)
 * red : (aamar )
 * blue : (azaraq )
 * yellow : (Asfar )
 * green : (Akhadar )
 * orange : (orangé )
 * purple : ( )
 * brown : (booni/maron)

Bus and train

 * How much is a ticket to _____? : ( )
 * One ticket to _____, please. : ( )
 * Where does this train/bus go? :bus da gai yamshe wen
 * Where is the train/bus to _____? : ( )
 * Does this train/bus stop in _____? : ( )
 * When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
 * When will this train/bus arrive in ____? : ( )
 * When will this train/bus arrive in ____? : ( )

Directions

 * How do I get to _____ ? :kef ana namchi le _____ ?
 * ...the train station? : ( )
 * ...the bus station? : ( )
 * ...the airport? : (Mataar )
 * ...downtown? : ( )
 * ...the youth hostel? : ( )
 * ...the _____ hotel? : (l'hotel )
 * ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : ( )
 * Where are there a lot of... : ( )
 * ...hotels? : ( )
 * ...restaurants? : ( )
 * ...bars? : ( )
 * ...sites to see? : ( )
 * Can you show me on the map? : (Wassibini fi carté da )
 * street : (Darib, Shaari )
 * Turn left. : (Lif bé issré/shemal )
 * Turn right. : (Lif bé zené/yameen )
 * left : (Issré/shemal )
 * right : (Zené/yameen )
 * straight ahead : (Direk)
 * towards the _____ : ( Alé___)
 * past the _____ : (zamaan faat [time passed] )
 * before the _____ : (naaman liisaa [time is still] )
 * Watch for the _____. : (shif le... )
 * intersection : ( )
 * north : ( )
 * south : ( )
 * east : ( )
 * west : ( )
 * uphill : ( )
 * downhill : ( )

Taxi

 * Taxi! : ( )
 * Take me to _____, please. : (widinii le (bakan/place) min fadlak)
 * How much does it cost to get to _____? : ( )
 * Take me there, please. : (widinii hinak min fadlak )

Lodging

 * Do you have any rooms available? : (indoukoum chambre hana oudjoura )
 * How much is a room for one person/two people? : (nadoum wahid/ nasene ti adjourou low/lome b kam)
 * Does the room come with... : (kurfa da yeji ma/mao )
 * ...bedsheets? : (furash/bajo )
 * ...a bathroom? : (hamam/dush )
 * ...a telephone? : (telephone )
 * ...a TV? : (télé )
 * May I see the room first? :neh shifa chambre da awal/kobul
 * Do you have anything quieter? : (indak ayyu shohol samet )
 * ...bigger? : (kabir min )
 * ...cleaner? : (nadif min)
 * ...cheaper? : (raqis min ):  "min" can mean from or than
 * OK, I'll take it. : (ni shila)
 * I will stay for _____ night(s). :( ni gohdi le _____ nuits )
 * Can you suggest another hotel? :( tarfi hotel ahkhar )
 * Do you have a safe? : ( )
 * ...lockers? : ( )
 * Is breakfast/supper included? : ( )
 * What time is breakfast/supper? : ( )
 * Please clean my room. : (min fadlak, nedifi kurfa hagi/hanai )
 * Can you wake me at _____? :(gaymini a _____?  )
 * I want to check out. : (Nador na shifi )

Money

 * Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : (inta [M] /inti [F] ta shilee gurush amerikani, canadi, ou/wala gurush Australia? )
 * Do you accept British pounds? : (inta [M] /inti [F] ta shilee gurush biritania? )
 * Do you accept euros? : (inta [M] /inti [F] ta shilee gurush urubiun/ooropean? )
 * Do you accept credit cards? : (inta [M] /inti [F] ta shilee kariit? )
 * Can you change money for me? : ( )
 * Where can I get money changed? : ( )
 * Can you change a traveler's check for me? : ( )
 * Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : ( )
 * What is the exchange rate? : ( )
 * Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ( )

Eating

 * A table for one person/two people, please. : (tabule le Wahid narim/tabule le itneen nas, min fadlak )
 * Can I look at the menu, please? : ( )
 * Can I look in the kitchen? : (tagdar ta shuf fil nadai da? )
 * Is there a house specialty? : ( )
 * Is there a local specialty? : ( )
 * I'm a vegetarian. : (ana ma nakoul laham/ana ma nakoul haiwan )
 * I don't eat pork. :( ma gai nakoul kanzir --- )
 * I don't eat beef. : (ana ma nakoul baghar )
 * I only eat kosher food. : (ana nakoul halal bes )
 * Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : ( )
 * fixed-price meal : ( )
 * a la carte : ( )
 * breakfast : ( )
 * lunch : ( )
 * tea (meal) : ( )
 * supper : ( )
 * I want _____. :( ana ni dora _____  )
 * I want a dish containing _____. : ( )
 * chicken : (dijaaj )
 * beef : (bagger/laham baghaar )
 * fish : (samak )
 * ham : (…kanzir? )
 * sausage : ( )
 * cheese : ( )
 * eggs : (bayd/giniijirat )
 * salad : (salata )
 * (fresh) vegetables :  ( )
 * (fresh) fruit : ( )
 * bread : (mapa )
 * toast : ( )
 * noodles :( indoumi)
 * rice :( ris)
 * beans : ( )
 * May I have a glass of _____? : ( )
 * May I have a cup of _____? : ( )
 * May I have a bottle of _____? : ( )
 * coffee :( shahi)
 * tea (drink) : (shiya )
 * juice : ( )
 * (bubbly) water :(  )
 * (still) water :( almeh/moya )
 * beer :( beer)
 * red/white wine : (ahmar/abyat Marisa )
 * May I have some _____? :( antini --- )
 * salt : ( )
 * black pepper : ( )
 * butter : ( )
 * Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): ( )
 * I'm finished. :( ana khalas  )
 * It was delicious. : ( )
 * Please clear the plates. : ( )
 * The check, please. : ( )

Bars

 * Do you serve alcohol? :( indoukoum alcohol ? )
 * Is there table service? : ( )
 * A beer/two beers, please. : ( )
 * A glass of red/white wine, please. : ( )
 * A pint, please. : ( )
 * A bottle, please. : ( )
 * _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : ( )
 * whiskey : ( )
 * vodka : ( )
 * rum : ( )
 * water :( almeh  )
 * club soda : ( )
 * tonic water : ( )
 * orange juice : ( )
 * Coke (soda) : ( )
 * Do you have any bar snacks? : ( )
 * One more, please. : ( )
 * Another round, please. : ( )
 * When is closing time ?
 * Cheers! : ( )

Shopping

 * Do you have this in my size? : ( )
 * How much is this? : ( )
 * That's too expensive. : (ada marawahit kaali )
 * Would you take _____? : ( )
 * expensive : (kaali)
 * cheap : (raqis )
 * I can't afford it. : ( )
 * I don't want it. :( ma ni dora )
 * You're cheating me. : ( )
 * I'm not interested. : (..)
 * OK, I'll take it. :( ok. ni shilah )
 * Can I have a bag? : (agar taidinii Shanta? )
 * Do you ship (overseas)? : ( )
 * I need... :( ana ni dora ...  )
 * ...toothpaste. : ( )
 * ...a toothbrush. : ( )
 * ...tampons. : . ( )
 * ...soap. : ( )
 * ...shampoo. : ( )
 * ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : ( )
 * ...cold medicine. : ( )
 * ...stomach medicine. : ... ( )
 * ...a razor. : ( )
 * ...an umbrella. : ( )
 * ...sunblock lotion. : ( )
 * ...a postcard. : ( )
 * ...postage stamps. : ( )
 * ...batteries. : ( )
 * ...writing paper. : ( )
 * ...a pen. : ( )
 * ...English-language books. : ( )
 * ...English-language magazines. : ( )
 * ...an English-language newspaper. : ( )
 * ...an English-English dictionary. : ( )

Driving

 * I want to rent a car. : ( )
 * Can I get insurance? : ( )
 * stop (on a street sign) : ( )
 * one way : ( )
 * yield : ( )
 * no parking : ( )
 * speed limit : ( )
 * gas (petrol) station : ( )
 * petrol : ( )
 * diesel : ( )

Authority

 * I haven't done anything wrong. :( ana ma sawehta shey)
 * It was a misunderstanding. : ( )
 * Where are you taking me? :( mala inti gai ti sheleni ?  )
 * Am I under arrest? : ( )
 * I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : ( )
 * I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : ( )
 * I want to talk to a lawyer. : ( )
 * Can I just pay a fine now? : ( )

Other
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Here are some basic Chadian Arabic phrases to get you started on the road to interacting with Chadians.

Typical More Formal Greeting Conversation

 * Ahlan wa sahlan : Welcome! (to our place, shop, home)
 * Salâm alek, _____ : greeting to an adult man, or boy (formal)
 * Keif-ak? : How are you?
 * Hamdulillah, kwayyis. : Thank God, I'm fine.
 * Inta, keif halak? : And how are you?
 * Hamdulillah, wa nass beitak? : Thank God. And your family?
 * Kullum kwaysin : They are all fine.
 * Ma salaam. : Goodbye

Other Greetings
Salâm aleki - greeting to an adult woman, or girl (formal)

Wa alêk al-salâm - response to the greeting (formal)

Lalê - hello (familiar, peer to peer greeting)

Inta (m)/inti (f) âfé? - are you well? (note the difference between addressing a man and a woman)

(anâ) âfé - I am well. (response to above; first word is optional)

agod âfé - you (sing.) stay well (I am leaving, a leave-taking phrase when addressing one person)

agodu âfé - you (plural) stay well (when addressing more than one person)

amshi âfé - you (sing.) go well (leave-taking, when you are the one who is staying)

amshu âfé - you (plural) go well (when addressing more than one person)

ma salamak - Goodbye

Medical
wên al daktor? - Where is the doctor?

wên al labtan? - Where is the hospital?

Ordering Something
antini almi hana churâb - Give me water to drink (In such phrases, "please" is not necessary)

antini Coka hana churâb - Give me a Coca-Cola to drink

antini mapa - Give me a baguette (French bread)

bêkam al kitab da? - How much does that book cost?

shunu al kitab da? - What is that book there?

mâla? - Why?

êsh wa mulah - boule (millet paste, staple food of Chad) and sauce

General
usumak shunu? - What is your name?

wên inta? - Where are you from?

shukran - Thank you

afwân - You are welcome (response to "shukran")

Al hamdu l'llah! - Praise God

How To Learn New Words
ma' anata... - What does... mean?"

Da shunu? - What is this?

Kikef tigul ... - How do you say...?

Kikef tigul be fransawi? - How do you say in French?

Kikef tigul be arabi? - How do you say in Arabic?

Kikef tigul be inglezi? - How do you say In English?